Former Donegal manager Jim McGuinness among those who will sleep out for charity

Jim McGuinness will spend a night sleeping out at Naomh Muire GAA club for charity next month.

The former Donegal manager will join the Celtic Foundation’s ‘Donegal Sleep Out’ which will take place on Saturday, December 3, at The Banks in Mullach Dearg. The primary focus for monies raised through this event will be to provide support directly in Ireland, including to those within the Creeslough community.

McGuinness guided Donegal to the 2012 All-Ireland SFC and also spent almost five years working with Celtic in consultancy and coaching roles.

“I have so many wonderful memories of my time working with Celtic, from big European nights such as that famous Barcelona victory, to matches against Rangers at Celtic Park but I have to say just being there within the Club every day for those years was a real privilege,” McGuinness said.

“Being part of a staff that was trying to compete at every level, watching those elite players in training every day, working with younger players within the Academy, all great memories. My fondest memories, though, were simply going to the games with my two young sons. That was magic!

“The connection between Celtic Football Club and Donegal is something that runs very deep and is incredibly important. It goes back centuries, when people from this part of the world decided that they had to emigrate and one of the first destinations for those folk was the west of Scotland.

“Thus, Celtic was not only their team, it was also home away from home for those people. So in that sense, the two things for many people from this area cannot be separated. That sense of place and identity is very powerful and is the reason why the connection is so strong.

“It will be fantastic to have the Foundation here in Donegal for the Sleep Out event. This charitable ethos is one of the most important aspects of Celtic Football Club, the fact that the very existence of the Club was borne out of charity. I think it’s incredibly important that this piece of the Club’s history is protected and nurtured for future generations of supporters.’

“As Celtic supporters, we should take great pride in the fact that the Club was formed to cater for and protect the most vulnerable in society. Unfortunately this mission is still a very real one today and the Foundation are doing some incredible work to support those who need their help most, including communities here in Ireland.

“I am really looking forward to getting along to the event and meeting everyone that has decided to ‘Sleep Out’ in the name of this great cause. I think it is a fantastic concept and look forward to doing a Q&A session with all the participants, before everyone settles down for the night.”

Sleep Out participants will spend the night – from 10pm to 6am – battling the elements outdoors, all for a wonderful cause. Places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Interested parties can register here.

The non-refundable registration fee is £30/€35 per person. Each participant is tasked with raising a minimum of £135/€150 (after the entry fee) to support this year’s Christmas Appeal. For further information please check the Celtic website.